Stripers are being stocked in Eastern NC
The NCWRC and NCDMF have begun a 3-year stocking effort to help restore populations of striped bass in Albemarle Sound and the Roanoke River.
The effort began in May, as 1.5 million fry were released into the Roanoke River at Jamesville. Another 650,000 fingerlings were stocked into Albemarle Sound in June near Edenton. All stocked fish were from NCWRC’s Watha State Fish Hatchery in Pender County.
Chris Smith, a district fisheries biologist for NCWRC said these fish should begin to spawn naturally when they reach 3 or 4 years of age.
“The intent is for these fish to ultimately contribute to the Roanoke River spawning population.”
Genitive marking techniques are being used on the stocked fish, which will help fisheries biologists determine how effective the restoration process is. The fish have been in decline for various reasons, including overfishing and declines in natural spawning success on the Roanoke River.
“A robust striped bass fishery is vital to our local economies spanning from the upper Roanoke River spawning grounds in Halifax and Northampton counties, downstream through Martin and Washington counties,” said Chad Thomas, executive director of the NC Marine & Estuary Foundation, a non-profit that has contributed $10,000 to the stocking effort.
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